Understanding Church Growth

Rating:
Summary: A classic in evangelism/missiology
Review: This revised edition is the place to get both the broadest and deepest exposure to the thinking of one of the twentieth century's most important missiologists. It is better than the first edition in applying the theses developed in India and elsewhere to the North American situation. It is better than the third edition, revised and edited by his student C. Peter Wagner, in conveying McGavran's passion.
Although the book includes biblical and theological research and reflection, case studies from contemporary missions on many continents, and illustrations from little-known periods of older church history, much is presented with the passion of a good sermon or courtroom argument.
The major thesis is that "missions" or "evangelism" must be seen as the task of persuading people to become committed followers of Jesus Christ and responsible members of local churches. The secondary thesis is that this can be accomplished only by understanding the receiver of the Christian message as well as the message itself. On the basis of these convictions, he argues the legitamacy and importance of keeping thorough and accurate records, of asking hard questions in statistical and case study research, and using the insights of the social sciences in developing mission strategy.
Persons who view the Church Growth Movement as obsessed with numbers, marketing, megachurches, or merely the despised (and usually misunderstood and misquoted)"Homogeneous Unit Principle" would do well to go the primary document of the movement which takes its name from his groundbreaking studies and teaching.
There are things to argue with here, and plenty have done so, both with and without actually reading what he said. But there is so much to learn--and do. Anyone serious about evangelistic strategy should become familiar with the concepts McGavran introduced or illuminated.